PDF The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam

 THE PHILOSOPHY OF

THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM

Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdias Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Translated into English by Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan

Islam International Publications Ltd.

"The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam" by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian English rendering of "Islami Usul Ki Philosophy" (Urdu) By Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan

First Urdu edition published in 1905, followed by several editions.

First English edition published in UK by The London Mosque in 1979 Reprinted by Islam International Publications Ltd. in 1989, 1992, 1996, 2007 The revised edition (in a new format) printed in UK in 2010 Reprinted in UK in 2013 & 2017

? Islam International Publications Ltd.

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, copying or information storage and retrieval systems without permission of the publisher.

Published by Islam International Publications Ltd., `Islamabad', Sheephatch Lane Tilford, Surrey GU10 2AQ UK.

Printed in UK at

British Library Cataloguing in Publication data Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam, 1835-1908

The philosophy of the teachings of Islam. 1. Ahmadiyyat I. Title

297. 2046 ISBN 1-85372-193-X ISBN 1-85372-198-0 Pbk

ISBN 978-1-84880-055-7 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

About the Author

Born in 1835 in Qadian (India), Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdias, remained dedicated to the study of the Holy Quran and to a life of prayer and devotion. Finding Islam the target of foul attacks from all directions, the fortunes of Muslims at a low ebb, faith yielding to doubt and religion only skin-deep, he undertook vindication and exposition of Islam. In his vast corpus of writings (including his epoch-making Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya), his lectures, discourses, religious debates etc., he argued that Islam was a living faith and the only faith by following which man could establish contact with his Creator and enter into communion with Him. The teachings contained in the Holy Quran and the Law promulgated by Islam were designed to raise man to moral, intellectual and spiritual perfection. He announced that God had appointed him the Messiah and Mahdi as mentioned in the prophecies of the Bible, the Holy Quran and Ahadith. In 1889 he began to accept initiation into his Community which is now established in one hundred and ninety-eight countries. His ninety-one books are written mostly in Urdu, but some are in Arabic and Persian.

4

The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam

After his demise in 1908, the Promised Messiahas

was succeeded by Hadrat Maulawi Nur-ud-Dinra, Khalifatul Masih I. On the death of Hadrat Maulawi Nur-ud-Dinra in 1914, Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmadra, who was also the Promised

Messiah'sas Promised Son, was elected as Khalifah. Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmadra remained in office for nearly fifty-two years. He died in

1965 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Hadrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmadrh, the Promised grandson of the

Promised Messiahas. After seventeen years of meritorious

services he passed away in 1982. He was succeeded by his

younger brother, Hadrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh as Khalifatul Masih IV who, having led the Community to its present strength and global recognition, passed away on the 19th

April, 2003. Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vat, is the present head of the Community and enjoys the distinction of being the great-grandson of

Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas.

Contents

Foreword to the Present Edition..................................................................viii Foreword to the Revised Edition 2010......................................................... ix Introduction .................................................................................................xv A Grand Piece of News for Seekers after Truth .......................................xxi

ISLAM .......................................................................... 1

FIRST QUESTION ..................................................... 3 The Physical, Moral and Spiritual States of Man ................................ 3 Three Types of Human Actions............................................................ 3 First Source: Nafsi Ammarah, the Self That Incites to Evil ............... 3 Second Source: Nafsi Lawwamah, the Reproving Self......................... 5 The Third Source: Nafsi Mutma'innah, the Soul at Rest ..................... 6 The Soul is Created................................................................................ 13 The Second Birth of the Soul .............................................................. 14 Gradual Progress of Man...................................................................... 15 The True Meaning of Islam ................................................................. 15 Distinction Between the Natural and Moral States......................... 17 The Refutation of the Doctrine of Preservation of Life ................. 19 Three Methods of Reform ................................................................... 20 The Advent of the Holy Prophet at the Time of the Greatest Need......................................................................................................... 21 The True Purpose of the Teachings of the Holy Quran is the Reform of the Three Conditions......................................................... 24 Natural Conditions by Regulation become Moral Qualities ........... 24 True Morals............................................................................................. 26 Distinction Between Khalq (Creation) and Khulq (Morals)............. 28 First Reformation i.e. Natural States of Man ................................... 30 Why is the Flesh of Swine Prohibited ................................................ 38 Moral Condition of Man....................................................................... 40 Moral Qualities Related to the Discarding of Evil .......................... 41 Five Ways to Maintain Chastity........................................................... 46 Moral Qualities Related to the Doing of Good ................................ 59 True Courage .......................................................................................... 71

vi

The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam

Truthfulness............................................................................................ 73 Steadfastness........................................................................................... 76 Sympathy for Mankind.......................................................................... 78 Search for an Exalted Being................................................................. 80 The Reason for the Appearance of the Holy Prophetsa in Arabia....................................................................................................... 84 What the World Owes to the Holy Quran ........................................ 85 Proof of the Existence of God............................................................ 87 Attributes of God .................................................................................. 92 Spiritual Conditions ............................................................................. 103 An Excellent Prayer............................................................................. 108 The Meaning of Drinks Prepared From Camphor and Ginger ... 117 The Effect of Ginger........................................................................... 119 Means of Establishing Perfect Spiritual Relationship with God.. 128

SECOND QUESTION ............................................. 133 The State of Man after Death ............................................................ 133 Three Quranic Insights Concerning the Hereafter ....................... 139 First Insight........................................................................................... 139 Three Types of Knowledge................................................................ 141 Three Conditions ................................................................................. 142 Second Insight...................................................................................... 151 Third Insight......................................................................................... 155

THIRD QUESTION................................................. 158 The Object of Man's Life and the Means of its Attainment ....... 158

Means of the Attainment of Man's Purpose .................................. 161

FOURTH QUESTION ............................................. 170 The Operation of the Practical Ordinances of the Law in this

Life and the Next ................................................................................. 170

The Philosophy of Allah's Swearing by Various things................. 174

FIFTH QUESTION ................................................. 182 Sources of Divine Knowledge ........................................................... 182 The Nature of Human Conscience................................................... 187 Meaning of Revelation ........................................................................ 191

A Characteristic of Islam .................................................................... 196

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download